Kesshō realised the targets were atleast twice as far as they used to be before, even moving from side to side with the help of strings attached to them, pulled by some strange magic powered mechanism. The nearest target moved the slowest and the furthest the fastest, making the furthest several times harder to hit if an arrow even managed to reach it.
"Hitting the first target is one point, a bullseye on it worth two. Hitting the middle target is worth three points, a bullseye worth six. And the farthest target is worth eight points, a bullseye on it worth ten," Mei explained.
Kurai, Yuki, and the man wearing the black outfit were there to watch how Kesshō performs, silently sitting at a wooden bench and observing.
"I would need one of you to be her competitor." Mei informed turning to the trio.
"Why? Just do it yourself," The man in the black outfit shrugged.
"I can't, Sora, I have practiced atleast a thousand arrows on targets like these so far. Every arrow I shoot is a guaranteed bullseye on these, even on the farthest target at that." Mei replied as she picked up a bow and shot an arrow with her head still towards the trio. The arrow soared through the air and landed on the farthest target dead center with a thud.
"Makes sense to me," Kurai sighed. "So, who is the best archer amongst us?" Kurai inquired as a person emerged from near the target and removed the arrow before retreating back into the bushes.
"Quite obvious." Mei shrugged as she handed Yuki the bow.
"Fine…" Yuki groaned. "I was hoping to be a spectator." She sighed as she got up and walked to Kesshō.
"Too bad, my little snowflake." Mei teased as she led Yuki to her place.
Yuki hit Mei in the stomach with the bow's end, making her clutch her stomach in pain and jump slightly. "Sorry." Mei groaned taking another bow herself. "Let me show you how it's done, watch carefully."
Mei took aim, following the movements she had taught Kesshō for the past several days. Judging the distance of the target, she tilted her bow slightly upwards and held the loaded arrow for a few moments. The targets moved from side to side, the anticipation increasing. Seeing an opportunity with the path to the final target empty, she let lose her first arrow and hit the target dead center, again, to show the two the process.
Clapping erupted from the four people crowd and Mei bowed twice to show her appreciation. "Now–" She placed the bow back in its place– "it's your turn. Ten arrows, highest points wins, don't disappoint me my star students."
Yuki and Kesshō nodded before taking aim. Kesshō angled her bow slightly higher than Mei to compensate for the height and strength difference. Both of them waited for an opening. Seeing the opening at the same time both of them let their arrows fly towards the target. Yuki's arrow barely missed the furthest target, flying slightly to the side. Kesshō's arrow, on the other hand, didn't even reach it. It landed on the lower corner of the middle target, earning her the lead, though by pure chance.
Kesshō looked at her hands in dismay as she realised even with all her strength and the perfect angle for the arrow to reach the furthest, she would still not make it far enough. She could attempt to keep hitting the targets even if not the furthest, but she was well aware Yuki will be able to adjust quick and hit a bullseye on the farthest target soon, and even the slightest mistake from Kesshō will be defeat.
Trying not to break her concentration or lose hope, Kesshō nocked another arrow into the bow and fired at the opportunity, this time, it hit the central target dead center, even with all of Kesshō's strength. On the other side, Yuki's arrow hit the farthest target, close to the center, just a finger's breadth away. Kesshō remained in the lead by one point, but if this continued, Yuki would take the lead with ease.
In trying to use all her strength Kesshō was sacrificing some of her accuracy, due to which she somehow managed to hit the central target which was not even in the line of fire she saw. She looked at the ground, racking her brain to think of something. After much thinking, she finally got an idea, which seemed awfully foolish, but she tried it regardless knowing she would lose either ways.
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Raising her leg in front of her, she mounted her bow onto it, getting it stuck in a gap in her shoe. Nocking the arrow onto the string she leaned backwards, pulling the arrow and tightening the string to its maximum, much more than what she could with just her hands. She nearly toppled over and released the arrow into the sky, but was able to regain balance, mainly due to her phoenix tails embedding themselves into the ground and supporting her body. With the help of her phoenix tails she angled herself to the target and let lose the first arrow.
Yuki, who was watching intently at the start, also shot an arrow, a few moments before Kesshō. Yuki's embedded itself in the center of the furthest target. Kesshō's flew through the air with great force and barely managed to hit the furthest target on its bottom-left edge. Yuki grinned on gaining the lead, not letting herself be distracted by Kesshō's unique idea.
Everyone else watched on as Kesshō mounted another arrow and angled herself again. It was a weird idea, but it still worked for her, mainly due to her abnormally weak hands, small body, and the incredible flexibility of the bow. Mei was keeping tab of the points, her attention not leaving the two. Kesshō doubted Mei looked towards the targets even once, but she was still keeping count confidently.
Yuki hit the bullseye on the farthest target with all her remaining arrows, maintaining her lead and earning her the victory. Kesshō's other arrows also all hit the bullseye, mainly thanks to her tails. On realising the objective, two of her tails raised themselves like snakes and held on to the bow to help her while the other seven positioned her perfectly to hit the target, without her telling them to. But still Yuki won due to the one point lead, not having held back even against Kesshō.
Kesshō sighed at her defeat, and lack of strength, her tails trying to comfort her. Though they didn't say anything it was clear what they were trying to do. Three of them kept pointing towards Yuki, the reason for it, unknown, Kesshō couldn't understand what they meant. One even attempted to poke Yuki but Kesshō stopped it before it could even do enough for anyone to realise what it was trying. It was now that Kesshō realized her tails possessed a mind of their own, seemingly each having its own seperate mind and personality. They worked in her best interests, but didn't always follow orders.
"Kesshō wins," Mei announced, walking between Yuki and Kesshō.
Yuki nodded a couple times trying to understand the reason. "Because of her revolutionary technique, truly spectacular. I do need to learn that, teach it to me later." She requested Kesshō as she raised her hand to her head trying to figure out if she would even be able to copy it.
"No–" Mei fixed Yuki with a gentle smile that radiated murderous intent– "it's because someone just needed to cheat and ruin the test."
"Cheat?" Sora asked, intrigued by the revelation.
"Well, the wind changed directions very weirdly today, didn't it?" Mei inquired Yuki.
Yuki remained silent, looking at the ground as she held the bow close to her body, hanging loosely in her arms.
"And guess which one of us knows wind magic," Mei shrugged. "I might not be able to use magic, but I can tell when it's being used."
"Sorry," Yuki sighed.
"What a way to disqualify yourself. You might have not cheated for yourself, but using magic is still against the rules, and you used it knowing that full well," Mei reprimanded.
"Not cheating for herself?" Sora questioned.
"Yes, she directed Kessho's arrows to the bullseye with her wind magic, after she decided to use her new style," Mei explained. "Seven out of those eight shots were directed by Yuki, the last was all Kesshō however, which is why I decided that she wins."
Kurai laughed followed by Sora as Yuki lowered her head.
"Well, it's all good in the end," Kurai reassured. "Kesshō was able to perfect her, uh… new style, with Yuki's help."
"What is good for me in this?" Yuki pouted.
"Well, Mei isn't that mad at you is a fair deal I'd say," Kurai shrugged. Yuki breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh no, you are mistaken." Mei denied in an evil voice. "She did violate the rules, so punishment is required. Go and collect all the arrows and targets." Mei ordered Yuki as she pointed at all arrows.
"Right away," Yuki yelped as she ran off towards the targets.
"There are a hundred and sixty eight arrows out there, collect every single one." Mei called after her as Yuki started to pick up the arrows.
The sad look was clear on her face even from there. Kesshō decided to help Yuki and went to the garden to pick up arrows to reduce her punishment.
"The punishment isn't for you," Mei called but Kesshō ignored it.
"The more the merrier." Kurai shrugged going to help as well.
"Do some of the work yourself too." Sora shook his head as he followed suit."
"Its not even a punishment at this point," Mei sighed.
With no option and little else to do Mei helped as well, all of them clearing up the "hundred and sixty eight" arrows, which turned out to be little more than fifty, in no time.